MASVINGO A suspected serial rapist in Mashava who would lubricate his minor victims privates with cooking oil before raping them has been arrested.
Tavonga Banda (20), was arrested after residents found him one evening naked and masturbating in the hills, raising the suspicion of the police, who then quizzed him.
Banda yesterday appeared at the Masvingo Magistrates Court facing two counts of rape and two of unlawful entry.
He was not asked to plead when he was arraigned before magistrate Patrick Mapiye for initial remand.
Appearing for the State, James Nyamapfeni said on January 10, Banda broke into a house in Gaths Mine, Mashava, through a window at around 2am and raped an eight-year-old girl after lubricating her private parts with cooking oil. He reportedly left unnoticed.
The complainants mother (name supplied) later woke up and found her daughter sprinkled with cooking oil all over, but could not understand what had happened.
She, however, became suspicious and took the child for medical examination which confirmed she had been sexually abused. On another count, on January 17 at around 3am, Banda, the court heard, allegedly targeted a two-year-old girl.
The complainant, who was sleeping with her baby, said she was awakened by some noise and found her daughter missing. Upon investigating, she allegedly found Banda standing naked in the corner of her bedroom.
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As she screamed for help, Banda bolted out. However, luck ran out for the suspected rapist when one Gazuzu found him masturbating naked in the hills one evening, prompting investigations which led to his arrest.
Mapiye remanded Banda to February 8 and ordered him to undergo psychiatric examination to ascertain his sanity.
